The Biomass plant – how it works

Fuel is stored in a bunker for further transport to the boiler. In the boiler, water is heated to high temperature under pressure. Steam from the boiler powers the turbine, which is connected to the generator. Steam that has passed through the turbine, heats district heating water, which is distributed through the district heating network's piping.

Co-firing biomass with coal

Co-firing biomass with coal (replacing a portion of coal with biomass) is an effective method of using biomass for energy purposes and to reduce CO2 emissions. Coal plants can be made suitable to replace part of the coal by biomass or even to convert fully to biomass – turning a coal plant into a 100% renewable energy plant.

Biomass used for electricity generation

Forest products – Woody biomass from multi-functional forests constitutes the majority of today's biomass. Pellets and briquettes are manufactured by compressing by-products from the forestry industry, such as sawdust, bark or small diameter wood. They are easy to transport and therefore suitable for export.

Waste, by-products and residues – Residues include manure, sewage, sludge and other degradable waste. Liquid biomass waste, such as manure, household waste and sewage plant residues, can be digested to biogas.

Waste and byproducts

Energy crops - Energy crops are not used on a large scale for electricity or heat production today. As demand for sustainable biomass increases over time, such energy crops may play a more important role in the future. Examples include woody short rotation forestry/crops such as eucalyptus, poplar and willow. But also herbaceous (grassy) energy crops such as miscanthus can be used. Especially with the use of energy crops, it is important to ensure these plantations are established and managed in a sustainable manner.

Greenhouse gas emissions

CO2 emissions from biomass are part of a short cycle and do not lead to a net increase of CO2 in the atmosphere: When forests grow, they absorb CO2. When biomass is harvested from forests and used for energy the CO2 is released again. When the forest regrows it reabsorbs the CO2 again, see illustration below. Provided the forest is managed sustainably the process of harvesting and regrowth can be continued indefinitely, making biomass a renewable source of energy.

Biomass - a short CO2 cycle

Trees take up CO2.

Wood residues are chipped.

CO2 is released during combustion in the power plant.

Trees take up CO2 and so on.

Enlarged illustration

Today, there is an ongoing debate on the time period within which biomass is truly carbon neutral. We believe that discussions on biogenic emissions could benefit from more comprehensive data collection on actual carbon stock developments in key biomass supply regions to allow for a more fact-based discussion.

Vattenfall tries to contribute to a better understanding. We co-financed several studies, together with both industrial players and NGOs. In the Netherlands, we actively contributed to the development of criteria that should ensure, and reliably demonstrate, that the biomass used has a good carbon performance.

Biomass typically leads to more than 80% CO2emission reductions

Biomass production, processing and transport leads to CO2emissions in the supply chain. Vattenfall monitors these emissions and the biomass we use typically leads to more than 80% CO2emission reductions. This also holds true for imported biomass.

Sea transport by ship is extremely efficient and wood pellets imported from North America achieve more than 80% emission reductions on average when compared to coal. Vattenfall is a member of the Sustainable Biomass Partnership that develops and implements standards and tools to ensure the sustainability of imported biomass. This includes a detailed standard for the CO2emission savings of the biomass we import, which includes the emissions of all stages in the supply chain.

The generation of electricity with biomass produces flue gases that must be cleaned before they are emitted into the atmosphere. This is done by utilising well-developed techniques such as flue gas washing and particulate filters.

CO2-emissions biomass pellets over the entire chain

Enlarged illustration

CO2 emissions from coal have been set at 100. This makes it easier to compare CO2 emissions from various energy sources. The figures are indicative; the exact figures depend on the characteristics of the chain.

The figures are based on scientifically accepted sources. The biomass pellets are assumed to come from the US, and the wood chips are assumed to come from the local region.

Biomass becomes electricity and heat

Enlarged illustration

Fuel is stored in a bunker for a further transport to the boiler. In the boiler, water is heated to high temperature under pressure. Steam from the boiler powers the turbine, which is connected to the generator. Steam that has passed through the turbine heats district heating water, which is distributed through the district heating network's piping.

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